The Cole Memo

A new bill filed in the Illinois House aims to expand access to medical cannabis and increase the number of plants residents can legally grow at home.

According to the synopsis for the legislation, House Bill 3498 (HB3498), introduced by Rep. Rita Mayfield on February 7, 2025, proposes amendments to Illinois’ cannabis laws. The bill removes restrictions that previously barred individuals with certain criminal convictions from becoming caregivers and increases the number of patients a caregiver can support from one to ten

Additionally, HB3498 seeks to amend the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act by expanding home cultivation limits. Under the proposed changes, residents would be allowed to grow up to 12 cannabis plants per household, up from the current limit of five.

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Cannabis Taxes, Flock Cameras & the Fight Over THC Potency | E332 – The Cole Memo

In this episode, Cole looks at how cannabis tax revenue is being used to fund Flock license plate readers in Champaign County and raises broader questions about where Illinois cannabis tax dollars actually go. The conversation also turns to the latest federal cannabis rescheduling developments after a DEA judge paused proceedings amid new questions about the process behind the proposed move to Schedule III. Later, Cole dives into the debate over THC potency limits, including whether higher-dose cannabis beverages should be available outside dispensaries, what role age restrictions should play, and how cannabis regulations compare with the way alcohol is sold. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/09/30/e332/

1. Cannabis Taxes, Flock Cameras & the Fight Over THC Potency | E332 01:17:31
2. Brad Spirrison Returns: Where Illinois Cannabis Goes From Here | E331 42:16
3. Illinois Bill Would Pay People Harmed by Cannabis Criminalization | E320 25:28
4. Brian Dombrowski on the Fight Over Hemp and the Future of Cannabis | E319 01:39:08
5. The Cannabis Industry’s Growing Divide, Plus an Illinois Outdoor Home Grow | E318 54:49